Report says food industry will create 30,000 new jobs by 2020
To achieve the ambitious targets set out in Food Harvest 2020, the government needs to introduce the right policies, says Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII)
Print8 August 2012
Development of the Irish agri-food sector could create an extra 30,000 new jobs if ambitious export growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are achieved.
The Irish agri-food sector already supports 230,000 jobs and spends €7.9bn in the Irish economy on goods and services every year.
Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), the IBEC group that represents the food and beverage sector, published a new report ‘Sharing the Harvest: The Food and Drink Sector Jobs Dividend’, which provides an in-depth analysis of the impact the agri-food sector has on the wider economy.
The report says that to achieve the ambitious targets, the sector needs, among other things, financing facilities to support expansion and the development of new companies in the sector, and reduced business costs. If the government puts the right policies in place, this important sector will drive growth in the wider economy, more so than any other in manufacturing.
Commenting on the report, FDII director Paul Kelly said: "Ireland’s food and drink sector is deeply embedded in the Irish economy, which means that an increased focus on food will drive growth in the wider economy as well as in the sector itself.
“The food sector spends €7.9bn, or 76% of its total expenditure, on Irish goods and services. This represents a significantly higher contribution to the domestic economy than in any other area of manufacturing. If we increase exports to €12bn, the sector will potentially deliver in the region of 30,000 jobs across the whole economy due to the proportionate increase in spend by the sector”.
Related Articles
Rudimental to headline Rockshore Après Sea →
Glanbia’s performance ‘in line with expectations’ in first quarter →
Visitors meet Dunnes Stores celebrity brand partners at Ideal Homes Show →
Fans 0
Followers